The road stretched east, endless and gray.
Three days since Riley joined them. Three days of white crates and empty miles. Alex had opened twelve of them—twelve—and still sat at Level 4.
Four hundred and seventy-five credits. Twenty-five more to Level 5.
Close, he thought. So close.
But close didn't keep you alive.
"Movement ahead," Jade called from the roof.
Alex climbed up beside her. Squinted into the distance.
Vehicles. Multiple. Parked in a cluster around what looked like a collapsed bridge.
"How many?"
"Eight. Maybe nine. Hard to tell from here."
"Crew or convoy?"
"Could be either."
Alex climbed down. Briefed the others.
Sarah gripped the steering wheel. "We could go around."
"We could. But if Marcus Jr. is with them..."
"Then we talk," Maya said. "The Free Wanderers aren't like the Road Knights. They trade. They negotiate."
"You know them?"
"I know of them. They're neutral. Don't pick fights. Don't start wars."
"That's rare on this road."
"It's rare anywhere."
---
They approached slow.
Alex stood in the passenger seat, upper body out the window, tire iron visible but not raised. A signal: We're not here to fight.
The Wanderers saw them coming.
By the time the RV stopped, a reception committee had formed. Four people. Armed, but weapons lowered.
"That's far enough," one of them said. A woman. Middle-aged. Gray streaking her dark hair. "State your business."
"Looking for someone," Alex called back.
"Who?"
"Marcus Jr. Heard he runs with you."
The woman's eyes narrowed. "Why?"
"His father knew my mother. I have information for him."
A long pause. The woman exchanged glances with her companions.
Then: "Wait here."
She disappeared into the cluster of vehicles.
---
Five minutes later, she returned.
Behind her walked a young man.
Early twenties. Broad shoulders. Dark skin. A scar ran across his left eyebrow—old, healed. He carried no weapon, but his hands were calloused.
Fighter, Alex thought. But not a killer.
"You're Alex Chen," the young man said.
"I am."
"Your mother was Elena."
"She was."
Marcus Jr. studied him. "My father spoke of her. Said she was the bravest person he ever knew."
"Your father was in the photograph. With my mother and Cole."
Marcus's eyes flicked to Cole, still on his Harley. "I remember him. The trucker who never shut up."
Cole laughed. "Your father said the same thing."
Marcus stepped forward. Extended his hand.
Alex shook it.
"Come," Marcus said. "We have a lot to talk about."
---
The Wanderers' camp was a small town.
Tents. Vehicles. A central fire pit. People moving between makeshift buildings—supply depots, a medical tent, what looked like a school.
"How many of you are there?" Alex asked.
"Forty-three," Marcus said. "Including children."
"Children?"
"The Transfer took everyone. No exceptions." Marcus's face darkened. "We protect the ones who can't protect themselves."
"That's... rare."
"That's survival. Alone, we die. Together, we live."
Alex thought about his own crew. Sarah. Jade. Danny. Maya. Cole. Riley.
Together, he thought. That's what makes us different.
---
They sat around the fire.
Marcus listened as Alex told the story. The journal. The photograph. The hidden note. Elena's message.
When Alex finished, Marcus was quiet for a long moment.
"My father never told me about Zero Mile," he said finally. "He said it was too dangerous. That knowing would put me at risk."
"He was trying to protect you."
"I know. But now he's gone. And I don't know what he knew." Marcus looked at Alex. "Your mother's note said I could help you."
"It did."
"Then tell me what you need."
Alex pulled out the journal. Opened to the last entry.
Day 60: They're getting closer.
"Who are 'they'?" Alex asked. "Your father was there. He must have said something."
Marcus frowned. "He mentioned a group. People who didn't want the system broken. Who wanted things to stay as they were."
"The Road Knights?"
"No. The Road Knights are new. These people were... older. More powerful."
"The ones who built the system?" Maya asked.
Marcus shrugged. "Maybe. My father didn't know. He just said they were watching. Waiting."
"Waiting for what?"
"For someone to try."
---
Sarah pulled Alex aside.
"I don't like this," she said.
"The Wanderers?"
"The whole thing. Marcus. The camp. The story about 'they.' It's too convenient."
"You think he's lying?"
"I think he's telling the truth as he knows it. But that doesn't mean the truth is complete."
Alex nodded. "Agreed. But he's our best lead."
"Or our biggest trap."
"We'll be careful."
Sarah sighed. "You always say that."
"And I'm always careful."
"You jumped an RV across a sixty-foot gap."
"I said careful, not sane."
---
They spent the night at the Wanderers' camp.
Alex didn't sleep.
He sat on the hood of the RV, journal in hand, watching the stars. The wrong stars. The ones that didn't match any constellation he knew.
My mother saw these stars, he thought. She walked this road. She faced whatever's waiting at Zero Mile.
And she survived.
So will I.
His system pinged.
```
[System: Common Supply Crate (White) detected]
Location: Wanderers' Camp – 0.0 miles ahead.
Survivors in area: 43.
```
A crate. Inside the camp.
Alex walked to the center of the camp. The crate sat by the fire pit—white, glowing, untouched.
"You going to open that?" Marcus asked from behind him.
"Was waiting for permission."
"It's not my crate. It's everyone's. That's how we work."
Alex crouched. Touched the lock.
Eight seconds.
```
[System: Common Supply Crate (White) opened.]
Rewards:
– MRE x2
– Water Bottle x2
– Credit: 50
```
He left the food and water by the fire. Kept the credits.
"Fifty," he said. "That puts me at five hundred twenty-five."
"Enough to level up?" Sarah asked.
"Enough."
He pulled up his system.
```
[System: Level up available. Current Level: 4. Next Level: 5.]
Confirm?
```
He pressed confirm.
```
[System: Level up complete. Current Level: 5.]
[System: 25/600 credits to next level.]
[System: 5 levels until Legendary Perk selection.]
```
Level five. Halfway to ten.
"Five more," he said.
"Five more what?" Danny asked.
"Five more levels until my first Legendary Perk."
---
Marcus walked with them to the edge of camp at dawn.
"The Free Wanderers are heading north," he said. "There's a settlement there. Safe zone, or so we've heard."
"And Zero Mile?"
Marcus shook his head. "Too dangerous. We're not ready."
"Will you ever be?"
"Maybe. Maybe not." He looked at Alex. "But you... you might be."
"You sound like Cole."
"Cole's a smart man."
Alex extended his hand. Marcus shook it.
"If you find out what happened to my father," Marcus said, "let me know."
"I will."
"And Alex?"
"Yeah?"
"Don't die before you do."
---
The RV rolled east.
Alex sat in the passenger seat, journal open, eyes on the road.
Behind him, the Wanderers' camp shrank to a dot, then disappeared.
Ahead, nothing but gray asphalt and the promise of Zero Mile.
His system pinged.
```
[System: Rare Supply Crate (Blue) detected]
Location: Abandoned factory – 15 miles ahead.
Survivors in area: 8.
```
Eight survivors. One blue crate.
Better odds than last time, Alex thought.
"Sarah," he said. "Fifteen miles. Blue crate. Eight survivors."
"Friendly or hostile?"
"We're about to find out."
Sarah grinned. "That's what I like to hear."
She hit the gas.